PAT CAPUTO: Michigan's "talent" could have trouble matching MSU's team WITH VIDEO

Michigan State's Derrick Nix, left, and Michigan's Jordan Morgan reach for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 64-54. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

It is the most-anticipated regular season college basketball game in this state since, well, who can remember?

As Michigan and Michigan State, finally, are set to meet late Tuesday night in East Lansing, my initial thought:

- The fourth-ranked Wolverines probably have the more talented collection of players.

- The eighth-rated Spartans probably have the better team.

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After toying with the thought of declaring for the NBA Draft, Michigan's resident star and college player of the year candidate, Trey Burke, not only decided to return, but is a better player than as a freshman. Shooter Tim Hardaway Jr. has progressed, as well. Freshmen Glenn Robinson III, Nic Stauskas and Mitch McGary have more than lived up to their considerable hype athletically and statistically.

Yet, there have been cracks in Michigan's armor which have been exposed during conference road games vs. higher-level opposition.

As balanced as Michigan's team has been in theory, in reality, the Wolverines have too often leaned on Burke. Robinson III and Stauskas did not play well in road losses at Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Still, the Ohio State loss was very close (a 3-points attempt late by Burke went in and out of the basket), and the Wolverines would have beaten Wisconsin were it not for a nearly half-court heave going down, which put the game in overtime.

Michigan coach John Beilein has come under fire because the shooter was not defended on the shot. It was similar to how the Wolverines lost to Ohio State a couple years back.

It all has the Wolverines' collectively smarting - and Spartans collectively smiling. Undoubtedly, chants of "overrated, overrated, overrated" will cascade down upon the Wolverines Tuesday at the Breslin Center should they falter. The Wolverines will either enter Tuesday's game with a huge chip on their shoulder and standup to the improving and typically mentally-strong Spartans and their decidedly intimidating crowd, or they will surrender to the moment.

One way or another, it will be revealing. It's a true test as to whether the Wolverines are merely a magnificent collection of basketball skill, or a solidly-bonded unit.

The Spartans had a sputtering start. A surprising season-opening loss to Connecticut, a lackluster performance at Miami and a conference-opening loss at Minnesota put the Spartans under the radar. They've also had persistent injury issues. There is, in addition, a matter of style. When Michigan plays well, it is breathtaking. They look like a national championship contender. On the other hand, the Spartans grind out wins - by three at Iowa, five at home vs. Illinois, by two at home to Ohio State, by two at Wisconsin.

The Spartans play tough defense, they crash the offensive boards and don't flinch when it gets tight - home or road. In other words, they are made in coach Tom Izzo's image.

And MSU's talent is underrated. Gary Harris is the best freshman in the Big Ten. Brenden Dawson is playing very well. Both were huge recruiting lands for Izzo.

Adreain Payne and Derrick Nix give MSU a superior inside game to the Wolverines, who live or die by jump shots. Keith Appling has been around for awhile. Burke will have to work hard on both ends of the floor.

This game will hardly make or break the season for either team. How far a team goes in the NCAA tournament trumps all. Conference titles are next in line. Then it's head-to-head - even for MSU-Michigan.

But it would be avoiding the gravity of the moment to suggest this isn't a key game. There is much to lose.

For Michigan, it's recent respect gained. For MSU, years of sustained success will be questioned with a loss.

Added to an always-sizzling rivalry, it makes for a huge encounter by any standard.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for The Oakland Press. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress,com and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98